KR20160037230A - Control system for controlling operation of a numerically controlled machine tool, and back-end and front-end control devices for use in such system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control system for controlling the operation of a numerically controlled machine tool 100 which is communicatively coupled to a back-end control device 300 and a back-end control device 300, And a front-end control device 200 connected thereto. The back end control device 300 includes a numeric controller 310, a programmable logic controller 320, a first communication interface 330 communicatively coupled to the numerical controller 310 and the programmable logic controller 320, And an interface server module 410 of a second communication interface 400 communicatively coupled to the first communication interface 330. The front end control device 200 includes an interface client module 420a, a second operating system 213, a basic module application 211 of the second communication interface 400 configured to be communicatively connected to the interface server module 410, And a second processing means 210 for executing a plurality of control applications 212a-212g. The basic module application 211 includes one or more interface client modules 420a, an interface server module 410, A display unit (230) for accessing data in the numerical controller (310) and the programmable logic controller (320) via a communication interface, a display unit (230) for displaying one or more control screens to a user, An input unit 240, and a display unit 230, which are communicatively coupled to the input unit 240, Controlling one or more controlled screens displacer, and includes a first human-machine interface (250) including a first graphical user interface (251) for processing user input on the control operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system for controlling the operation of a numerically controlled machine tool, and a back-end and front-end control devices for use in such a system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION < RTI ID = 0.0 & FOR USE IN SUCH SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a control system for controlling the operation of a numerically controlled machine tool, comprising a back-end control device and a front-end control communicatively coupled to the back-end control device Device. The present invention also relates to a back-end control device and a front-end control device for use in such a system.

In the prior art, several sales companies, such as Siemens, Fanak, Heidenhain, Mitsubishi, Bosch-Rexroth, provide control devices (such as CNC units) for controlling the operation of numerical control machine tools, A tool is typically a numerical controller (also called a numerical controller (NC)); A programmable logic controller [also referred to as a PLC (programmable logic controller)]; First storing means for storing data (NC and / or PLC data) and including one or more PLC registers of a programmable logic controller and one or more NC registers of a numerical controller; First processing means for executing a first operating system based on data stored in first storage means; And sales company specific interface language protocol and sales company specific internal NC / PLC communication protocol, and numerical controller by internal NC / PLC communication protocol; Programmable logic controller; And a communication interface communicatively coupled to the first storage means.

Typically, machine tool builders must select the CNC unit type from among a plurality of different CNC units or even a plurality of CNC unit sales companies. For example, it may be necessary to select a specific CNC unit according to customer requirements and depending on the fauidity ratio. Machine tool builders, on the other hand, generally provide CNC units with their original functions or special functions to increase the value added functions by comparing them to the functions available for specific CNC units, Or CNC unit sales companies to maintain a common operability for the operation of machines.

In addition, the technical expectations for machining are declining in the machining industry sectors, recognizing differences in the different types of markets on the market and in the operation, handling and use of the CNC units of the sales company in order to maintain a high level of machining accuracy Knowing the characteristics of each available CNC unit is becoming increasingly difficult.

As an efficient solution to the above problems, it is possible to reduce the amount of knowledge required to operate the CNC units and CNC machine tools, so that the different CNC units of different sales companies and the common It is necessary to provide operability. Specifically, by providing common standardized operability devices for CNC control, which can be used for all types of CNC units that are not standardized in themselves between CNC units and CNC unit sales companies, It is desired to make it easier to do. More specifically, it is desirable to provide a common application programming interface (API) for CNC units manufactured by different manufacturers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control for controlling the operation of a numerically controlled machine tool, which can be commonly applied to a plurality of machine tools of different sales companies, including NC / PLC control systems of different sales companies utilizing different interface language protocols. (Including even machine tools of different sales companies and different NC / PLC systems) can be monitored either directly or remotely in a universal and convenient manner, Can be universally, efficiently, intuitively, and reliably controlled.

In order to solve the object of the present invention, according to the present invention there is provided a control system for controlling the operation of a numerical control machine tool according to claim 1, a front end control device according to claim 17, Control device, and a communication interface according to claim 20 are proposed. The dependent claims relate to preferred aspects of the present invention.

According to an aspect of the invention, a control system for controlling the operation of a numerically controlled machine tool may be provided, the control system including a front end control device communicatively coupled to a back end control device and a back end control device .

According to an aspect of the invention, the back-end control device comprises a numerical controller (also referred to as NC); A programmable logic controller (also referred to as a PLC); First storing means for storing data (NC and / or PLC data) and including one or more PLC registers of a programmable logic controller and one or more NC registers of a numerical controller; First processing means for executing a first operating system based on data stored in first storage means; And / or a first communication interface, which utilizes a first interface language protocol and an internal NC / PLC communication protocol, and which is communicatively coupled to the numerical controller, programmable logic controller, and first storage means by an internal NC / . ≪ / RTI > These CNC units, including the numerical controller (NC) and the programmable logic controller (PLC), are typically vendor specific and are provided by a plurality of vendors, each using different internal communication protocols and different interface language protocols do. Accordingly, although the first interface language protocol is typically vendor specific, it may also be a shared protocol that is typically used by a plurality of vendors that still use different internal vendor specific NC / PLC communication protocols .

According to an aspect of the present invention, the back-end control device or the front-end control device includes a first interface language protocol (preferably utilizing a plurality of different sales company-specific interface protocols as first interface language protocols) The interface server module may include an interface server module of the second communication interface that utilizes a plurality of interface language protocols including an interface language protocol and communicably connected to the first communication interface by a first interface language protocol, An interface language translation from a first interface language protocol to a second interface language protocol and an interface language translation from a second interface language protocol to a first interface language protocol, And to convert between the first interface language protocol and all other or one or more interface language protocols. Preferably, such an interface language protocol conversion includes interface language protocol conversions between different vendor-specific interface language protocols (as vendor-specific first interface language protocols) and a second interface language protocol.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a front end control device utilizes a second interface language protocol and / or a second internal communication protocol, and communicably connects to an interface server module of a second communication interface by a second interface language protocol One or more interface client modules of the second communication interface. This has the advantage that the interface server module and the interface client module can communicate in a common and universal manner independent of the specific type of first interface language protocol that may be specific to the vendor.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the front end control device may further include a second processing means for executing a second operating system, a basic module application, and a plurality of control applications, The application may be configured and / or configured to access data stored in the first storage means via the one or more interface client modules of the second communication interface, the interface server module of the second communication interface, and the first communication interface, Programmable logic controller, and / or first storage means, via the first communication interface, the interface server module of the second communication interface, and the one or more interface client modules of the second communication interface that The may further include a second storage means for.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a front end control device comprises: a display unit for displaying one or more control screens to a user; An input unit for receiving control input operations from a user; A first human machine interface communicatively coupled to the display unit and / or the input unit, the first human machine interface including a first graphical user interface for controlling one or more control screens displayed on the display unit and processing user control input operations, .

According to this aspect, vendor specific communication protocols or interface language protocols (such as first interface language protocols < RTI ID = 0.0 > , It is possible to conveniently and reliably operate a universal control environment on the front end control device for very different numerical control machines and machine tools.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the basic module application executed on the second processing means is preferably configured to issue control commands of the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol to the one or more interface client modules, Wherein the one or more interface client modules are preferably configured to communicate control commands of the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol to the interface server module. This is because the data from the NC / PLC is independent of the vendor-specific NC / PLC systems and independent of the vendor-specific communication protocols used in the vendor-specific NC / PLC system environment, Lt; / RTI >

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the interface server module preferably converts the received control commands of the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol into corresponding control commands of the first interface language protocol, Preferably, the first interface language is configured to communicate the translated control commands of the first interface language protocol to the first communication interface, wherein the first communication interface is preferably configured to receive the converted control commands of the first interface language protocol from the first storage means And to request corresponding data. This means that the control of the NC / PLC is independent of the vendor-specific NC / PLC systems, and independently of the vendor-specific communication protocols used in the vendor-specific NC / PLC system environment, Can be performed.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a base module application may include one or more communication interfaces (e.g., via a web server module and the Internet via wired or wireless data communication) of the front end control device, and / (Via data media drives or USB ports), and preferably controls and / or controls the installation of one or more new control applications based on the imported new control application data, And may be configured to control the updating of one or more existing control applications, preferably based on the fetched update data. This means that adding and / or adding new control applications or updating existing control applications of the NC / PLC can be performed independently of the vendor specific NC / PLC systems and in sales for use in the vendor specific NC / PLC system environment Independent of the company-specific communication protocols, can be universally performed by the basic module application.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the control applications executed on the second processing means are preferably communicatively coupled to the base module application (e.g., based on a second internal communication protocol) It is possible to access the data stored in the storage means. This means that control of the import of data to the control applications from the NC / PLC is controlled independently of the vendor specific NC / PLC systems and also by the vendor specific communication protocol , Can be performed universally by requesting data through a basic module application.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the control applications executed on the second processing means are preferably communicatively coupled to the base module application (e.g., based on a second internal communication protocol), and the base module application preferably And to store result information and / or statistical information received from the one or more control applications in the second storage means.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, one or more of the plurality of control applications executing on the second processing means preferably transmits data relating to one or more of the plurality of control applications to the second control applications, Are configured to observe, through the base module application. This has the advantage that some control applications can be used by other control applications via the base module application or can directly observe the generated data without the requirement of requesting data from the NC / PLC system.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, one or more of the plurality of control applications executing on the second processing means preferably transmits data relating to one or more of the plurality of control applications to the second control applications, Is configured to modify, via the base module application. This has the advantage that some control applications can be used by other control applications via the base module application without the requirement to request data from the NC / PLC system or can directly modify the generated data.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first human-machine interface is preferably configured to provide a plurality of sets of user-operable widgets, each user-operable widget preferably being operable by a user via an input unit Wherein the first graphical user interface is preferably configured to control a plurality of first control screens such that each first control screen comprises a configuration of a respective set of user operable widgets, And is preferably configured to switch between one or more first control screens displayed on the display unit based on user input operations entered via the input unit. This means that a convenient graphical user interface for controlling the NC / PLC is independent of the vendor-specific NC / PLC systems and independently of the vendor-specific communication protocols used in the vendor-specific NC / PLC system environment, As shown in FIG.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the system is preferably configured to communicatively connect to a first communication interface and a first human-machine interface, and preferably a second graphic for controlling at least one second control screen Further comprising a second human machine interface including a user interface, wherein the first graphical user interface is also preferably configured to control displaying one or more first control screens or a third control screen on the display unit, 3 control screen preferably includes a portion corresponding to at least one second control screen provided by a second graphical user interface. This means that a convenient graphical user interface for controlling the NC / PLC is independent of the vendor-specific NC / PLC systems and independently of the vendor-specific communication protocols used in the vendor-specific NC / PLC system environment, And has the advantage that vendor specific NC control screens can be embedded conveniently within the control environment.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first graphical user interface is preferably configured so that the third control screen further preferably comprises a configuration of each set of user-operable widgets provided by the first human- 3 < / RTI > control screen. This has the advantage that the third control screen provides complete control of the second graphical user interface (vendor specific) and also adds additional control functions by additional widgets included in the third control screen.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the second graphical user interface is preferably included in the front end control device, and preferably is executed on the second processing means. Alternatively, in accordance with another preferred aspect of the present invention, the second graphical user interface is preferably included in the back end control device running on the first processing means, wherein the first and second graphical user interfaces are preferably graphical And communicably connected through a desktop sharing system.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first graphical user interface is further configured to control displaying an application selection screen on the display unit, preferably having a set of user-operable application selection widgets, each application selection widget And is preferably configured to enable selection by a user of one or more of the plurality of control applications. This has the advantage that a convenient and universal application selection tool can be provided independently of the vendor-specific NC / PLC systems and independently of the vendor-specific communication protocols used in the vendor-specific NC / PLC system environment .

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first graphical user interface is also configured to control, preferably for each selected control application, displaying each application screen (control application screen) for each selected control application , Wherein each application screen includes a set of user operable widgets associated with the control application.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the input unit and the display unit are preferably integrated in an operating unit including a touch user interface including a touchpad or a touch screen, preferably combining an input unit and at least portions of the display unit. This allows a convenient, user-friendly and intuitive control environment to be provided independently of the vendor-specific NC / PLC systems and independently of the vendor-specific communication protocols used in the vendor-specific NC / PLC system environment .

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first graphical user interface preferably comprises one or more user-operable widgets communicatively coupled to the base module application and / or one or more interface client modules.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, one or more widgets are preferably configured / configured to access data in the first and second storage means via a base module application, or one or more preferred widgets may be configured to access one or more interface client modules To access data in the first storage means.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the front-end control device further comprises a web server module configured to access data in the first storage means, preferably via one or more interface client modules.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first graphical user interface preferably comprises a first web browser module communicatively coupled to the web server module.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the system includes a second web browser module, a second display unit for displaying one or more control screens to a user, and a second input unit for receiving control input operations from a user. 1 remote control device, wherein the second web browser module is preferably communicatively coupled to the web server module of the front-end control device and is preferably communicatively coupled to the base module application of the front- A first storage means, a numerical controller, and a programmable logic controller of the back end control device via a first communication interface, preferably a web server module, one or more interface client modules, an interface client server, To access And the second display unit is preferably configured to display one or more control screens provided by a first graphical user interface via a graphical desktop sharing system. This enables convenient and universal remote control functions from external devices, such as, for example, mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones such as laptops or laptops, tablets or smart phones), independent of sales company specific NC / PLC systems, And can be provided independently of the vendor-specific communication protocols used in the company-specific NC / PLC system environment.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the system includes a processing unit (processing unit), a remote application executing in the processing means, and a third graphical user interface for providing a remote application screen based on the execution of the remote application 2 remote control device, wherein the third graphical user interface is preferably communicatively coupled to a first graphical user interface of the front-end control device, wherein the first graphical user interface is preferably connected via a graphical desktop sharing system And to display a remote application screen on the first display unit of the front end control device. This enables convenient and universal monitoring and / or remote management functions from external devices such as, for example, remote computers or mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones such as laptops or laptops, tablets or smart phones) Independent of the PLC systems, and independently of the vendor-specific communication protocols used in the sales company-specific NC / PLC system environment.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the system preferably comprises an interface client module communicatively coupled to the database storage device, utilizing a second interface language protocol, and preferably comprising one or more front- Further comprising a data collecting device communicably connectable to one or more interface server modules of the end control device, wherein the data collecting device preferably includes an interface client module, and each interface server module of each backend control device Wherein the data collection device is configured to access data in the storage means of the one or more back end control devices via the first communication modules, And database storage means for storing the history data received from the control device or the back-end control device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a front end control device for use in a system according to any of the preceding aspects can be provided. The front end control device is configured to utilize a second interface language protocol and / or a second internal communication protocol, and configured to communicatively connect to an interface server module of a second communication interface by a second interface language protocol, One or more interface client modules of the interface; A second processing means for executing a second operating system, a basic module application, and a plurality of control applications, wherein a basic module application executing on a second processing means (second processing unit) comprises one or more interface client modules The interface server module of the second communication interface, and the data stored in the first storage means via the first communication interface; A programmable logic controller and means for storing data received from the first storage means, via a first communication interface, an interface server module of a second communication interface, and one or more interface client modules of a second communication interface, 2 storage means; A display unit for displaying one or more control screens to a user; An input unit for receiving control input operations from a user; A first human machine interface communicatively coupled to the display unit and / or the input unit, the first human machine interface including a first graphical user interface for controlling one or more control screens displayed on the display unit and processing user control input operations, .

According to a preferred embodiment, the front-end control device utilizes a plurality of interface language protocols, including a first interface language protocol and a second interface language protocol, communicatively coupled to the first communication interface by a first interface language protocol, And an interface server module of the second communication interface, wherein the interface server module is configured to perform the interface language conversion from the first interface language protocol (s) to the second interface language protocol and the interface language conversion from the second interface language protocol to the first interface language protocol (S) of the plurality of interface language protocols, including interface language translation to the first interface language protocol (s).

According to an aspect of the invention, a back-end control device for use in a system according to any of the preceding aspects may be provided, the back-end control device comprising: a numerical controller; Programmable logic controller; First storage means for storing data and including one or more PLC registers of a programmable logic controller and one or more NC registers of a numerical controller; First processing means for executing a first operating system based on data stored in first storage means; A first communication interface communicatively coupled to the numerical controller, the programmable logic controller, and the first storage means by an internal NC / PLC communication protocol utilizing a first interface language protocol and an internal NC / PLC communication protocol; And / or a plurality of interface language protocols, including a first interface language protocol and a second interface language protocol, communicatively coupled to the first communication interface by a first interface language protocol, Wherein the interface server module includes an interface language translation from the first interface language protocol (s) to a second interface language protocol and an interface language translation from the second interface language protocol to the first interface language protocol (s) , And to convert between the first interface language protocol of the plurality of interface language protocols and all the other or one or more interface language protocols.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a communication interface for use in a system according to any of the preceding aspects may be provided, wherein the communication interface comprises one or more of a first interface language protocol and a second interface language protocol An interface that is communicatively connectable to first communication interfaces of one or more NC / PLC back-end control devices by one or more first interface language protocols utilized by the first communication interfaces, Server module; And / or a second interface language protocol and / or a second internal communication protocol, and is configured to be communicatively coupled to the interface server module by a second interface language protocol.

The features, components, and specific details of the structures of the above-described aspects may be exchanged or combined to form further optimized aspects for each application. As long as such modifications are readily apparent to those skilled in the art, these modifications will be implicitly disclosed by the foregoing description in all possible combinations, without any explicit provision, for the sake of brevity of the description.

1 shows an exemplary schematic structure of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2B shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
3A shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
3B shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
4 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
5 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a third control screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described features and aspects of the embodiments may be modified or combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

1 shows an exemplary schematic structure of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control system generally includes actuators 120 (such as axial drive actuators, spindle drive actuators, tool change actuators, workpiece / pallet change actuators, cooling mechanism actuators, chip transport actuators, etc.) Suitable for controlling (and / or monitoring) the operation of numerical control machine tool 100, including sensors 110, such as sensors, sensors, vibration sensors, impact sensors, optical sensors, touch sensors, Do.

In embodiments of the present invention, the numerical control machine tool 100 may include a plurality of numerical control linear and / or rotational axes, an automated workpiece and / or pallet exchange in a machine tool, a tool magazine and / Such as, for example, a milling machine tool, a lathe, a milling / turning machine tool, a turning / milling machine tool, a universal machine tool, Machine tools, and machining centers with four, five, or even more controllable axes.

The control system may be incorporated in the cabinet of the machine tool 100, illustratively shown in FIG. 1, or may be incorporated in the external control panel of the machine tool 100, End control device 200 that may be integrated within an external control panel of the machine tool 100, illustratively shown in FIG. 1, or integrated into the cabinet of the machine tool 100. The front-end control device 200 communicates (via a communication connection) to the back-end control device 300 (which may be a wired connection or a wireless connection via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. or may even combine wired and wireless connection types) .

1, the back-end control device 300 includes a numerical controller 310 (which is generally referred to in the art as NC) and a programmable logic controller 320, And the programmable logic controller 320 receives internal PLC control logic stored in a PLC register or the like from the sensors 110 of the machine tool 120 and / or received from the numerical controller 310 Wherein the numerical controller 310 is configured to control a plurality of actuators 120 of the machine tool 100 based on user input, manually or automatically generated NC program software, machine tools Programmable logic controller 320 and a plurality of actuators 120 of machine tool 100 based on data and signals received from sensors 110 of sensors 100, .

The front end control device 200 includes a display unit 240 for displaying one or more control screens to a user (e.g., an operator of the machine tool 100) and an input unit 230 for receiving control input operations from a user . Display unit 240 includes at least one screen display means but may additionally include a plurality of screen displays of the same size or different sizes and may further include other display means such as LEDs and / have. The input unit 230 may include one or more pointing devices such as one or more touchscreens, one or more keypads, a computer mouse, etc., buttons, keys, USB ports, wireless communication interface ports (such as RFID, WiFi, , And serial or parallel communication ports.

In at least some of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the display unit 240 and at least portions of the input unit 230 display one or more control screens to the user and perform control input operations from the user, And are incorporated into one or more touch screen units that are simultaneously functioning to be configured to receive control input operations from the user.

Preferably, even in embodiments in which the internal components of the front-end control device 200, which are illustratively described below, are primarily incorporated into the cabinet of the machine tool 100, at least the display unit 240 and the input unit 230, Is still preferably incorporated into an external operating unit within the panel of the machine tool 100. [

In addition, the back-end control device 300 in embodiments of the present invention may include vendor-specific NC / PLC control devices, such that the NC / PLC control devices may additionally have their respective display and input units It should be noted that Thus, the present invention is not limited to embodiments in which only the front-end control device has input and display units 230 and 240, and the control devices, i.e., the back-end control device 300 and the front- May have respective displays and input units.

More detailed configurations of the back-end control device 300 and the front-end control device 200 according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B.

1st Example

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, including a back-end control device 300 and a front-end control device 200. FIG.

1, the front-end control device 200 may preferably have one or more touch screens that combine at least a portion of the functions of the display unit 230 and the input unit 240 Includes a display unit 230 and an input unit 240, which are illustratively integrated within a single operation unit 260. The display unit 230 includes a display unit 230, At least the operating unit 260 can be integrated into the external control panel of the machine tool 100 and the remaining parts (e.g., additional computer devices having one or more CPUs and connected to the CNC unit in the back- The front end control device 200 may be integrated in the exterior operation panel of the machine tool 100, or alternatively, the front end control device 200 may be integrated in its entirety into the external operation panel of the machine tool 100. [

On the other hand, the back-end control device 300 includes the numerical controller 310 (NC) and the programmable logic controller 320 (PLC) described with reference to FIG. The PLC 320 includes one or more PLC registers 321 for storing PLC data and the NC 310 is used to store NC data (either manually or automatically generated NC programs and / or automatically generated NC And one or more NC registers 311 for storing NC data (including some of the programs). The backend control device 300 can be integrated into the cabinet of the machine tool 100 or integrated into the external control panel of the machine tool 100. [ NC 310 further includes processing means 312 (such as one or more CPUs) for processing / processing / executing NC programs or portions thereof and for executing NC operating system 313. One or more NC registers 311 and one or more PLC registers 321 (and, alternatively, integrated into NC 310 or directly connected to NC 310, such as disk drives, flash drives, NC Connected USB sticks, cache memories, etc.) may form a first storage means in the context of the appended claims.

The back end control device 300 in FIG. 2 utilizes a first interface language protocol and may also utilize an internal NC / PLC communication protocol and may include a numeric controller 310, a programmable logic controller 321, (NC internal communication interface) communicatively coupled to the first storage means, including one or more of the NC registers 311 and one or more PLC registers 321. [ In general, the first communication interface module 330 transmits externally received control commands to the NC 310 and / or the PLC 320 or to the NC 310 and / PLC communication protocol and / or a first interface language protocol for requesting data from one or more NC registers 311 and one or more PLC registers 321 at the request of the numerical controller 310, A programmable logic controller 321, and first storage means, including one or more NC registers 311 and one or more PLC registers 321. When the internal NC / PLC communication protocol is utilized, the first communication interface 330 is connected to the internal NC / PLC communication protocol (sales company specific) and the first communication interface 330 for external communication (Mutually) between the first interface language protocol (specific to the company or specific to the sales company group).

It should be noted that not only the first interface language protocol but also the internal NC / PLC communication protocol is typically vendor-specific and is dependent on the particular sales company of the NC / PLC system. For example, the first known interface language protocols for specific sales companies are "Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)" for process control, such as protocols from Bosch-Rexroth AG OPC) " based communication protocols, or CAP / DDE from Siemens AG, cjh / jh module from Heidenhain GmbH, MELDASAPI from Mitsubishi, or FOCAS from Faunax etc. Company-specific communication protocols.

The backend control device 300 also includes a second human machine interface 340 that includes a second graphical user interface 341. The second human- The second human machine interface 340 is configured to be communicatively coupled to the first communication interface 330 and the second graphical user interface 341 is configured to communicate with at least one sales company specific NC control screen (second control screen) .

Unlike the publicly available sales company specific NC systems, the back end control device 300 includes an additional communication interface module shown as an interface server module 410 in FIG. Although the present embodiment has described that the interface server module 410 is provided in the back end control device 300 including the NC / PLC, the present invention is not limited to the case where the interface server module 410 is provided in the back end control device 300 In some embodiments, the interface server module 410 may be coupled to the NC-PCL interface 330 by a wired and / or wireless communication connection within the front-end control device 200 It should be noted that what is provided (see Figures 2b and 3b below) is also conceivable. It is also contemplated that in some embodiments, the interface server module 410 may be provided within a separate intermediary device that is interconnected between the back-end control device 300 and the front-end control device 200. The above description is also applied to the embodiments described later so that the interface server module 410 is also provided in the back end control device 300, the front end control device 200, or some intermediate interface device .

The interface server module 410 is part of a second communication interface 400 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2), and includes a first interface language protocol and a second interface language protocol utilized by the first interface 330 (In particular, the aforementioned OPC based communication protocols from Bosch-Rexroth AG, or CAP / DDE from Siemens AG, cjh / jh module from Heidenhain GmbH, MELDASAPI from Mitsubishi, Or a plurality of NC vendor specific first interface language protocols, such as FOCAS or other vendor specific communication protocols used for FANCAS, etc.).

The interface server module 410 is communicatively coupled to the first communication interface 330 by a first interface language protocol, that is, the interface server module 410 receives, via communication of the first interface language protocol, Communicate and transmit control commands of the language protocol to the first communication interface 330 or receive data or requests from the first communication interface 330. [

In addition, the interface server module 410 may include interface language translation from a first interface language protocol to a second interface language protocol and interface language translation from a second interface language protocol to a first interface language protocol, And to convert between the first interface language protocol and all other interface language protocols among the language protocols. Specifically, the interface server module 410 is configured to (mutually) translate between a plurality of vendor-specific first interface language protocols and a second interface language protocol, for example, as described above.

As another part of the second communication interface 400, a data block 430 is provided in one or more PLC registers 321 in which the selected PLC data is registered, and the interface server module 410, One or more PLC registers 321 may be communicatively coupled to one or more PLC registers 321 for direct access to the data in the PLC data block 430 either directly or through the first communication interface 330, It is connected.

Another portion of the second communication interface 400 is a plurality of interface client modules 420a, 420b, and 420c included in the front-end control device 200 as exemplarily shown in FIG.

The front end control device 200 includes three interface client modules 420a, 420b, and 420c of the second communication interface 400, each of which includes a wired and / Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 410 < / RTI >

The interface client modules 420a, 420b and 420c of the second communication interface 400 utilize a second interface language protocol (and additionally, The interface client modules 420a, 420b and 420c may be communicatively coupled to the interface server module 410 of the second communication interface 400 by a second interface language protocol .

Alternatively, if a second internal communication protocol is used for internal communications within the system configuration of the front-end control device 200, the interface client modules 420a, 420b, 420c may communicate with the second internal communication protocol and the second (Mutual) interface language protocol. Alternatively, or in addition, the interface server module 410 may be configured to (mutually) convert between the second internal communication protocol and the second interface language protocol.

In addition to the above contents, the front-end control device 200 according to the first embodiment includes a second storage means 220 for storing data, and a second storage means 220 for storing a second operating system, A basic module application 211 and a second processing means 210 for executing a plurality of control applications 212a to 212g.

The basic module application 211 executed on the second processing means 210 is connected to the interface client module 420b of the second communication interface 400, the interface server module 410 of the second communication interface 400, One or more of the data stored in the one or more NC registers 311 and / or the data stored in the one or more PLC registers 321 via the communication interface 330 and / Stored in the data block 430 of the second communication interface 400 in the one or more PLC registers 321 through the interface module 420b of the first communication interface 400 and the interface server module 410 of the second communication interface 400. [ ) Data.

The second storage means 220 may also include a first communication interface 330, an interface server module 410 of the second communication interface 400 and an interface client module 410 of the second communication interface 400. Alternatively or in the alternative, The programmable logic controller 320, the one or more NC registers 311, and / or the one or more PLC registers 321, via the memory controller 420a (or 420c as described below) Or the second storage means 220 may be configured to store the received data and the second storage means 220 may be configured to store the received data in the interface server module 410 of the second communication interface 400 and the interface client module 420a of the second communication interface 400 Or to store data received from a data block 430 in one or more PLC registers 321, as described below or 420c.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, data access by the base module application 211 and / or the one or more control applications 212a through 212g may be allowed or possible as follows.

For example, the base module application 211 running on the second processing means 210 may issue control commands of the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol to the interface client module 420a, The interface client module 420a may be configured to request data stored in the NC registers 311 and / or in one or more PLC registers 321, and then the interface client module 420a may request the data stored in the second interface language protocol and / Protocol control commands to the interface server module 410.

The interface server module 410 also converts the received control commands of the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol into corresponding control commands of the first interface language protocol, The first communication interface 330 may be configured to transmit the converted control commands to the first communication interface 330 via the first communication interface 330 upon receipt of the translated control commands of the first interface language protocol May be configured to request corresponding data from one or more NC registers 311 and / or one or more PLC registers 321 (or directly from data block 430).

Alternatively, or in addition to the above, one or more of the control applications 212a-212g running on the second processing means 210 may be connected to the base module application 211 (or possibly interface client modules (Or directly through one of the interface client modules 420a-420c) via the base module application 211 as described below, May be enabled to access data stored in one or more NC registers 311 and / or one or more PLC registers 321.

The control applications 212a-212g running on the second processing means 210 may also be communicatively coupled to the base module application 211 and the base module application 211 may be communicatively coupled to the one or more control applications 212a- 212g) in the second storage means (220).

Also, one or more of the plurality of control applications 212a-212g executing on the second processing means 210 may be configured to execute one or more of the plurality of control applications 212a-212g 0.0 > 212a-212g. ≪ / RTI >

In addition, one or more of the plurality of control applications executing on the second processing means 210 may be configured to modify data relating to one or more of the plurality of control applications (212a-212g) .

The front end control device 200 according to the first embodiment includes a display unit 230 and a display unit 230. The front end control device 200 includes a display unit 230 and an input unit 240. The front end control device 200 includes a display unit 230, Further includes a first human machine interface 250 that includes a first graphical user interface (GUI) 251 for controlling the above control screens and processing user control input operations through the input unit 240 do.

The first human machine interface 250 is configured to provide a plurality of sets of user-operable widgets, each user-operable widget being operable by a user via an input unit 240. [ In view of the present invention, the user-operable widget is a user-operable application having a display widget portion and an internal widget application portion, the display widget portion representing an operable portion of the input unit and a displayed portion of the control screen, Is provided to the user at the displayed portion and allows the user to manipulate or control the widget via the operable portion. On the touch screen, the displayed portion and the operable portion may be partly or wholly integrated at a portion of the control screen displayed on the touch screen.

The first graphical user interface 251 is also configured to control a plurality of first control screens displayed on the display unit 230 such that each first control screen includes a configuration of a respective set of user- do. Also, because one control screen (or a group of selected control screens) is preferably displayed at a time, the first graphical user interface 251 is also based on the user input operations input via the input unit 240 To switch between one or more first control screens (or groups thereof) to be displayed on the display unit 230.

For example, the first graphical user interface 251 may also be configured to control displaying an application selection screen having a set of user-operable application selection widgets on a display unit, And to enable selection by the user of one or more of the control applications.

The first graphical user interface 251 may then also be used by the user (e.g., a user) input via the input unit 240 as an input selected by manipulating the associated application selection widget to select a particular first control screen Is configured to switch between one or more first control screens (or groups thereof) that are displayed on the display unit 230 based on the input operations.

In particular, the first graphical user interface 251 may also be configured to control, for each selected control application, displaying each application screen for each selected control application, And a set of application-related user-operable widgets. Each application screen may include a selection screen widget for displaying an application selection screen on a display unit in operation of a selection screen widget by a user.

The first graphical user interface 251 generally includes a plurality of user operable widgets 254 communicatively coupled to the base module application 211 and / or the one or more interface client modules 420a, 420b . The one or more widgets 254 may also be configured to access data within the second storage means 220, one or more PLC registers 321 and / or one or more NC registers 311 via the base module application 211 And / or one or more of the widgets may be configured to access data in one or more PLC registers 321 and / or one or more NC registers 311 via one or more interface client modules 420a, 420b .

The front end control device 200 according to the first embodiment can access or directly access the data in the second storage means 220 through the basic module application 211 and access one or more PLC registers 321 ) And / or data in one or more NC registers 311 through the interface client module 420c or via the base module application 211 and interface client module 420b, ).

The web server module 270 may store a markup language such as XML or HTML based on the data in the second storage means 220, one or more PLC registers 321 and / or one or more NC registers 311, language, and stores the web page data in a storage means 220, a basic module application 211, and / or a first web browser module, which are communicatively connected to the web server module 270. [ (Not shown). The web server module 270 may also be communicatively coupled to a computer network, such as a LAN, SAN, or the Internet, for receiving and / or receiving web page data from / to the computers of the network.

The first web browser module 280 may be configured to receive from the web server module 270 (either generated by the web server module 270 or received from the web server module 270 from the communication network) Or to generate image data to be displayed on, for example, display unit 230, e.g., as part of a control screen or as additionally provided web page screens . The first web browser module 280 may be part of the first graphical user interface 251 or may be connected to the first graphical user interface 251.

As also mentioned above, the second graphical user interface 341 of the back-end control device 300 is configured to control at least one sales company specific NC control screen (second control screen).

According to a preferred aspect of the first embodiment, the first graphical user interface 251 is also configured to control displaying one or more of the first or third control screens described above on the display unit 230. In particular, the third control screen may be an application screen selectable via the application selection screen described above via a selection widget for selecting the third control screen.

Figure 8 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a third control screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this example, the third control screen B comprises at least one second control screen provided by the second graphical user interface 341 of the back-end control device (e. G., Unique to the CNC sales company specific NC 310) (E.g., an NC control screen of the display portion A). In addition to the display portion (A) in the third control screen, which corresponds to at least one second control screen provided by the second graphical user interface 341, the first graphical user interface 251 comprises a first graphical user interface May be configured to control the third control screen such that the third control screen further comprises a configuration of a set of each of the user-operable widgets 254 provided by the additional display portions (B1-B5) have.

Illustratively, the dimensions of the third control screen B may be in units of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and the display portion A may have a dimension of 1280 x 1024. Display portion B1 may have a 1920 x 56 dimension, and the remaining display portions B2 through B5 may each have a 640 x 256 dimension. In particular, the display portions B2 through B5 may include user-operable widgets (e.g., touch-operable widgets in the touch screen portion) for controlling the functions of the machine tool and for controlling the monitoring functions of the machine tool have. The display portions B2 through B5 may include user manipulatable widgets associated with user manipulatable input means (such as a button, keypad, softkey, etc.) of the NC sales company specific control panel associated with NC 310 Touch operable widgets in the screen portion). This NC vendor specific input means may be provided as a virtual touch operable keypad displayed in one or more display portions B2 through B5.

Thus, through the input unit 240 and the display unit 230, the user can access the backend control device 300 from the operation unit 260 of the front-end control device 200 through the first graphical user interface 251 It is possible to access one or more second control screens provided by the second graphical user interface 341 and to access the second graphical user interface 340 with additional widgets provided only by the first graphical user interface 251, Control and / or monitoring functionality in that the operability of the second graphical user interface 341 can be provided by one or more third control screens, It is possible to provide the user with functionality and operability through the first graphical user interface. This means that the third control screens provided by the first graphical user interface 251 are made up of the unmodified second control screens (e.g., screen A described above) provided by the second graphical user interface 340, And may include additional information and operability through additional widgets (e.g., in the display portions B1 to B5 described above) provided by the graphical user interface 251. [

In some embodiments, the base module application 211 is coupled to the display unit 230 by a graphical user interface 251 to provide status information regarding the status of the numeric control machine or the machine tool, Which may be configured to control parameter values associated with the status parameters displayed and / or visualized on the status control screen to the NC 310 and the PLC 320, As shown in FIG.

In the first embodiment, the above is provided in an additional desktop sharing module 253 at the first human machine interface 250 of the front-end controlling device 200, and the desktop sharing module 253 at the second human- 340) (specifically, for example, a second graphical user interface 341).

The direct communication of the second human machine interface 340 with the desktop sharing module 253 of the first human machine interface 250 depends on the first or second communication interfaces 300 or 400 The human machine interfaces 250 and 340 may communicate directly or more specifically the first human machine interface 250 may access the second human machine interface 340 .

This desktop sharing module 253 (DSM or DS module) can be realized by a known desktop sharing system, e.g., Virtual Network Computing (VNC), which, according to this VNC, (DS server module as an example) and a VNC client (DS client module as an example) communicating over a network (e.g., a DS protocol as an example).

For example, the desktop sharing module 253 may have a DS client module and the second human machine interface 340 may communicate with the desktop sharing module 300 via the DS protocol without involving any of the communication interfaces 300, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > DS < / RTI >

The basic module application 211 manages the control applications 212a through 212g installed in the front-end control device 200 and manages the removal of installed control applications or the addition of new control applications and associated user- It can represent an application. The basic module application 211 is also connected between the control applications 212a-212g and the control applications 212a-212g and the storage means 220, between the control applications 212a-212g, And / or between the control applications 212a-212g and the graphical user interface 251. In this case,

The basic module application 211 also manages the downloading of the control application data via the web browser 280 and the server module 270 and the storage in the storage means 220 and the newly downloaded control applications and related user- Manage the installation of widgets, and can be configured to adapt one or more control screens based on installed and / or newly installed control applications. Likewise, the base module application can control the updating of one or more control applications based on the update data downloaded via the web server 280 and the server module 270.

Thereby, new control applications for a plurality of machine tool control systems may be provided / provided later or updated later, independent of the actual sales company of the sales company specific NC / PLC system, It is easily possible to install the operating system in the environment of the operating system 213 independently of the vendor-specific operating system 313 of the NC / PLC system and the vendor-specific interface communication protocols of the NC / PLC system.

The new control application data for the new control applications and / or the update data for the existing control applications can be retrieved from the database storage means 710 via the communication server module 720 as described in the following additional embodiments, for example, May be manually or automatically downloaded through the web browser 280 and the server module 270. In addition, the new control application data for new control applications and / or update data for existing control applications may be communicated via wireless communication, such as, for example, WLAN or Bluetooth, or via a USB port or DVD of the front- Or via other media drivers, such as a CD, directly to the storage means 220.

Second Example

2B shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of the second embodiment is mostly similar to that of the first embodiment, and similar features, modules, and / or units are labeled with the same reference numerals. A detailed description of similar features is omitted for convenience, and the following description focuses on differences between the first and second embodiments.

2a, the interface server module 410 is illustratively provided in the back-end control device 300, whereas in FIG. 2b, the interface server module 410 is provided in the front-end control device 200 Are provided by way of example. 2B, the interface server module 410 is internally connected to the interface client modules 420a to 420c on one side and externally connected to the NC-PLC interface 330 of the back-end control device 300 have. The functions of the interface server module 410 are similar to those in FIG.

Third Example

3A shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of the third embodiment is mostly similar to that of the first embodiment, and similar features, modules, and / or units are labeled with the same reference numerals. A detailed description of similar features is omitted for convenience, and the following description focuses on differences between the first and third embodiments.

In contrast to FIG. 2A, in FIG. 3A, the second human machine interface described above (which may be a sales company specific human machine interface of the sales company specific NC / PLC control system parts of the back end control device 300) or At least a second graphical user interface is provided on the front end control device 200 and a NC human machine interface (similar to the human machine interface 340 in FIG. 2A but provided on the front end communication device 200) 252) (or the NC graphical user interface 252) are directly connected to the first communication interface 330. Also, even though the NC human machine interface 252 is illustratively provided on the front-end control device 200, communication between the NC human-machine interface 252 and the first communication interface can be performed without first involvement of the second communication interface device Interface language takes place over protocol communications.

However, the NC human machine interface 252 may be configured to control the first human machine interface 250 to provide data for the second control screens to the first human machine interface 250, ). This connection may be direct communication, but the first human machine interface 250 has a DS client and the NC human machine interface 252 has a DS server communicating with the DS client via the DS protocol (e.g. via VNC) Is also conceivable.

Fourth Example

3B shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of the fourth embodiment is mostly similar to that of the third embodiment, and similar features, modules, and / or units are labeled with the same reference numerals. A detailed description of similar features is omitted for convenience, and the following description focuses on differences between the third and fourth embodiments.

3A, the interface server module 410 is illustratively provided in the back-end control device 300, whereas in FIG. 3B, the interface server module 410 is provided in the front-end control device 200 Are provided by way of example. 3B, the interface server module 410 is internally connected to the interface client modules 420a to 420c on one side and externally connected to the NC-PLC interface 330 of the back-end control device 300 have. The functions of the interface server module 410 are similar to those in FIG.

Fifth Example

4 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of the fifth embodiment is mostly similar to that of the first embodiment, and similar features, modules, and / or units are labeled with the same reference numerals. A detailed description of similar features is omitted for convenience, and the following description focuses on differences between the first and fifth embodiments.

Also, the back-end control device 300 according to the fifth embodiment can be realized similar to the back-end control device 300 of Fig. 2A, but the additional features shown in Fig. It should be noted that it has been omitted. In addition, the fifth embodiment can be modified similarly to the modifications of the other embodiments described above. Specifically, as in Figs. 2B and 3B, the interface server module 410 may alternatively be provided in the front-end control device 200. Fig.

4, the control system further includes an external remote data acquisition device 700, which is communicatively coupled to the database storage means 710 via a communication server module 720 And is communicatively coupled to the interface server module 410 of the back-end control device 300 and is also connected to one or more of the other control systems of the other machine tools 100 The interface client module 420d of the second communication interface 400 (shown again by a dashed line) configured to connect with one or more additional interface server modules 410 of the end control devices 300 Configured similarly to interface client modules 420a through 420c).

Specifically, as long as the interface server module 410 is provided in each of the connected control systems (where the control systems are each configured as in the embodiments described above), the communication server module 720 can communicate with the plurality of machine tools 100, End control devices 300 of the plurality of control systems of the plurality of control systems.

Thus, externally coupled data acquisition device 700 can be configured to communicate with one or more back-end control devices 300 (including one or more NC registers 311, one or more The interface client module 420d, each interface server module of each back-end control devices 300, to the data in the storage means (including the PLC registers 320, and / or one or more data blocks 430) Through the interface client module 420d and the respective interface server modules 410 in the case of the data blocks 430 or through the first communication interface modules 410 and the first communication interface modules 330, .

Data collection device 700 may be configured to store data received from one or more backend control devices 300 via interface client module 420d, for example, to control the operation of a plurality of machine tools 100 and / And database storage means 710 for storing history data on the control history. Here, the data acquisition device 700 may be directly connected to a plurality of control systems of a plurality of machine tools (e.g., one production line or machine tools of the same kind) at one plant site. Alternatively, the data collection device 700 may include a plurality of machines located at a plurality of plant sites, for example, via an Internet connection that enables remote observation and management monitoring of a plurality of machine tools located at a plurality of plant sites May be coupled to a plurality of control systems of the tools (e.g., one production line or the same type of machine tools, etc.).

6th Example

5 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of the sixth embodiment is mostly similar to the configuration of the first embodiment, and similar features, modules, and / or units are labeled with the same reference numerals. A detailed description of similar features is omitted for convenience, and the following description focuses on differences between the first and sixth embodiments.

Also, the back-end control device 300 according to the sixth embodiment can be realized similar to the back-end control device 300 of FIG. 2A, but the additional features shown in FIG. 2A are only shown in FIG. 5 It should be noted that it has been omitted. In addition, the sixth embodiment can be modified similarly to the modifications of the other embodiments above in accordance with the above-described differences, and the sixth embodiment can be modified, for example, by adding the additional features of the fifth embodiment described above. 2B and 3B, the interface server module 410 may alternatively be provided within the front-end control device 200. [

5, the control system further includes a remote control device 600, which includes a processing device 610 (such as one or more CPUs), a processing device 610 And a third graphical user interface (such as a graphical user interface of an operating system such as a personal computer based on a Windows-based operating system such as Microsoft Windows or a Linux-based Windows operating system such as KDE) , The third graphical user interface includes at least a DS server, but further illustratively includes a desktop sharing module 630 that may also include a DS client for desktop sharing according to the VNC described above.

The remote application 620 may appear as a software application that provides CAD and / or CAM functionality, and / or a software application that provides virtual simulation functions for simulating the operations of the machine tool 100. Based on the execution of the remote application 620 on the processing device 610, the third graphical user interface includes a human interface (not shown) of the front end control device 200 having a desktop sharing module 253 with at least a DS client 250 may be provided to control one or more display screens or control screens that may be provided by the DS server of the desktop sharing module 630 (or in the case where the GUI 252 or the HMI 250 has a DS client) .

In particular, the third graphical user interface may be configured to provide one or more remote application screens based on the execution of the remote application 620, and the third graphical user interface may be configured via the desktop sharing module 630 to the front- And is communicatively coupled to the first graphical user interface 251 of the first computer 200. The first graphical user interface 251 is then configured to control displaying a remote application screen on the first display unit 230 of the front end control device 200 via a graphical desktop sharing system, do.

Thus, the connection to the remote control device 600 in accordance with FIG. 5 allows the user / operator of the machine tool 100 to perform the functions of the front end control device 200 without imposing a heavy computational burden on the processing means 210 of the front end control device 200, A display unit 230 and an input unit (not shown) are connected to a remote application 620 (such as CAD, CAM, and / or virtual machine tool simulation applications) running on the processing means 610 via desktop sharing And can be easily accessed by the user.

Seventh Example

Fig. 6 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of the seventh embodiment is mostly similar to the configuration of the first embodiment, and similar features, modules, and / or units are labeled with the same reference numerals. A detailed description of similar features is omitted for convenience, and the following description focuses on differences between the first and seventh embodiments.

Also, the back-end control device 300 according to the seventh embodiment can be realized similar to the back-end control device 300 of Fig. 2A, but the additional features shown in Fig. It should be noted that it has been omitted. Further, the seventh embodiment can be modified in the same manner as the modifications of the other embodiments according to the above-described differences, and the seventh embodiment can be modified, for example, by adding the additional features of the fifth embodiment and / or the sixth embodiment described above Can be modified. 2B and 3B, the interface server module 410 may alternatively be provided within the front-end control device 200. [

6, the control system further includes a remote control device 500 (which may additionally have one or more features of the remote control device 600), which remote control device 500 may include one or more control screens A second input unit 530 for receiving control input operations from a user, a second web browser module 510, and at least a DS client for displaying to a user, And a desktop sharing module 540 that may also include a DS server for desktop sharing according to a VNC.

The human-machine interface of the remote control device 500 may be implemented using a variety of operating systems, such as, for example, a Windows-based operating system such as Microsoft Windows or a Linux-based Windows operating system such as KDE, , Android-based, or Apple OS-based mobile phones (e.g., smart phones) or tablets.

The connection of the remote control device 500 with the front-end control device 200 can be realized by wired or wireless connections, and the remote control device 500 can be implemented as a notebook personal computer, smartphone or tablet with touch operability When implemented by a mobile device, this connection is preferably wirelessly deployed via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless communication technologies such as UMTS or LTE.

The second web browser module 510 is communicatively coupled to the web server module 270 of the front end control device 200 and communicates via the web server module 270 to the base module application of the front end control device 200 211 or second storage means 220 or via the web server module 270, the interface client module 420c, the interface client server 410 and the first communication interface 330, Accessing and / or accessing the PLC and / or NC registers 321 and 311, the numerical controller 310 and the programmable logic controller 320 of the control device 300 or the web server module 270, the interface client module 420c, and an interface client server 410. The client data server 430 may be configured to access the PLC data block 430,

The second display unit 520 is also connected to the first human machine interface 250 through a graphical desktop sharing system by connecting the DS server of the desktop sharing module 253 of the first human machine interface 250 and the DS client of the desktop sharing module 540, May be configured to display one or more control screens provided by the graphical user interface (251).

Thus, the connection to the remote control device 500 according to FIG. 6 allows a user / operator of the machine tool 100 to perform desktop sharing, without imposing a significant computational burden on the processing means of the remote control device 500 A remote control device 500 and its display unit 520 and input unit 530 remotely connected (e.g., via a VNC) via a touch screen (these may in particular be integrated within the touch screen in the case of a smartphone or tablet) Manipulate / manipulate, or control the machine tool 100 through the functions provided by the first graphical user interface 251 by the user (e.

Eighth Example

Fig. 7 shows an exemplary schematic configuration of a control system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 7, the portable ID unit 900 is connected to the front control device 200 via the interface IF.

The communication interface IF may be a wired or wireless communication interface (IF), including interfaces such as Ethernet, USB, wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), RFID, The portable ID unit 900 may be a portable unit associated with a particular user of the machine tool, storing user data of a particular user (which includes at least a user ID uniquely identifying a particular user) And / or operational mode data indicative of one or more operational modes available for selection by the user.

When the portable ID unit 900 is connected to the front-end control device 200, the base module application 211 identifies the user by the received user data, and determines the access level of the particular user and / And to determine one or more possible modes of operation. The access level may be associated with one or more operation / control modes of the machine tool to be controlled. The base module application 211 is then configured to provide control application functionality to the identified user based on the determined access level and / or one or more operational modes available to a particular user.

For example, if the user's determined access level indicates that the user is allowed to operate or control the machine tool at only a limited access level (in which case some of the control options will not be available to the user) The module application 211 provides only a limited set of control screens to the user based on the determined access level and / or based on one or more operating modes available to a particular user (i.e., On the control application selection screen described above, based on the determined limited access level and / or based on one or more operational modes available to a particular user, the application < RTI ID = 0.0 > Only a limited set of optional widgets (I.e., one or more control applications can not be selected by the user and can not be provided to the user), based on the determined limited access level and / or based on one or more operating modes available to a particular user To control the first human machine interface 250 to provide only a limited set of user-operable application widgets to the user, on the control application screen associated with the particular control application.

Control Application Examples

In the following, a control application managed by the basic module application 211 and capable of retrieving data from external storage means, front-end and back-end control devices, and NC and PLC registers based on the above- Lt; / RTI >

Status Monitor Application : The status monitor application displays a status monitor application (e.g., a status monitor application) when the input unit 240 has not been operated for a predetermined period of time and no user has logged in to the system (e.g., no portable ID device 900 is connected) May be automatically provided by a human machine interface 250 including a display status monitor to be displayed by the unit 230. [ The status monitor may include a user-operable widget for selecting a control application selection application to be described below.

The status monitor can display one or more of the following information: date and time; Information about the logged-in user (including name, access level, and / or available operating modes, etc.); And the name of the NC program currently running on the machine tool in each channel, the elapsed time and remaining time for the currently processed NC program (e.g., percentage of work progress, machining progress, and / Or machining operation progress information indicating the remaining work time and estimated completion time of the currently executed job batch), the number of manufactured parts and remaining parts of the job batch currently being processed, the number of the currently processed work batch A progress bar showing the time to completion and / or the workplace batch progress percentage, the main feeding axes of the machine tool and / or the axis positions and / or axial loads of the machine tool in each channel, one of the machine tools in each channel The maximum allowable spindle vibration for the spindle and / or the maximum allowable spindle motor power Information about the operation and control of the machine tool, including at least one of the machining operation placement progress information indicating the load factor (e.g., percent). In addition, upon detection of raw material shortage, the display portion of the status monitor may include a quantity of residual raw material or a time interval until the raw material runs out (e.g., from bars loaded from shelf to rack or from pallet to milling machine, machining center, Raw material workpieces supplied to the machine tool). In addition, the status monitor can show all of the tools stored in the associated tool magazine, indicating the lack of tools, reaching the end of life warning limit, and, in the case of a critical tool, the remaining life span.

In addition to the above, the status monitor includes system alarms (not shown) including periodic HMI, PLC, or NC alarms (as submitted from NC 310 or back-end unit 300) as well as other alarms that can be signaled from NC cycles Lt; / RTI > The conditions of the machine tool in which system warnings can be displayed on the status monitor include one or more of the following: when the coolant circuit signals low or nearly insufficient pressure, low or nearly insufficient pressure is signaled by the hydraulic circuit (For example, the expiration of the bar material in the case of a bar loader provided in a lathe), when a lack of tools is detected (for example, when a shortage of the tool is detected , The tool stored in the tool magazine provided for the machine tool has reached its end of life), the cycle is canceled or stopped, the feed hold is activated, and the chip conveyor signals a load increase, If low or low forces are detected in the chuck when signaling the critical temperature, When the correct clamping signal is not signaled, when the laser system is active, when the inert gas flows in the laser at low pressure or at an inappropriate flow rate, if the pallet changer has an error occurrence or shows an open door, and The service interval is reached and a machine check is required.

The status monitor may also display information about power consumed or recovered in terms of spindles and feed drives, for example, as numerical values, numerical ticks / unit or as a graphical representation of the power flow. In the latter case, the display can be scaled up to 100% of the sum of the nominal power of the spindle and feed drives in the positive (i.e., power consumption) direction and in the negative (i.e., power emission) direction, Can be scaled to 50% of the sum of the powers.

All of the above status monitor information may be obtained either from the NC 310 or PLC 320, or from the storage means 220, via the base module application 211, or through the associated interface client module 420, May be computed based on information obtained from the NC 310 or PLC 320, or from the storage means 220, via the base module application 211 or through the associated interface client module 420.

The status monitor may also include a user-operable widget for executing a control application selection application, described below, for displaying a control application selection screen.

A control application selection application is a control application selection screen (not shown) displayed by a display unit 230 that allows a user to select from among a set of available control applications (including a status monitor application and one or more control applications described below) (Not shown).

For example, the control application selection screen may include a set of user-operable application selection widgets or a limited set of user-operable application selection widgets (depending on the user's access level and / or one or more operating modes available to the user) And each user-operable application selection widget is associated with a control application available to the user. In operation of one of the user-operable application selection widgets, the base module application 211 is configured to manage the execution of the selected control application.

Machining Task Auxiliary Application : A machining task assistant application may be stored in storage means 220 or in all other storage systems (back end device 300 and all other connected devices of the above described embodiments) connected to the front end device 200 , ≪ / RTI > for example). If a stored NC program or a stored work list of a plurality of NC programs is selected, the machining work assistant application is configured to process the selected NC program or the associated work data stored in the storage means for the selected work list and further information of the plurality of NC programs, Such processing may include importing image data (e.g., a 2D view of the final part and / or a 3D CAD-based model of the final part) identifying the finished part and showing the finished part, and selecting the selected NC program or a plurality of selected NC programs To identify a list of tools needed to manufacture the final part based on the work list, to view a list of the tool magazine ' s stored tools to see if one or more required tools may be missing and to generate data representing a list of missing tools Check, Results in an non-type, name, or information indicating a picture, is included to bring the offset value points. The machining task assistant application can then be configured to provide this additional information about the selected NC program or a selected work list of the plurality of NC programs.

Machining operation editing application allows a user to create machining operations, manually modify the information needed for the above-mentioned machining operation assistant application, and allows the selected NC program or a plurality of NC programs And to generate or modify configuration data or code data of the selected work list.

Unique NC Control Application : A unique NC control application can be enabled to manage the human machine interface 250, such as for displaying the third control screen described above, The graphical user interface of the human machine interface of the native NC 310 of the back-end device 300 in the front-end device 200 is simulated by including the inherent control screen of the human- And may provide the user with the operation and control functions of the NC 310's native graphical user interface through the graphical user interface of the human machine interface 250.

(Screen portions B1 to B5 described above) managed by extension applications (including user-operable widgets) to provide background information on current tasks, processes, or machine conditions, Additional monitoring and control operability may be provided in additional screen portions. These extended applications include a system load monitoring application to indicate the CPU load or a system load such as an empty NC storage location, an NC instruction application to teach positions for rapid semi-manual programming of NC programs, stability intervals and interruption times A user ID application for providing user ID data indicative of user data (e.g., a name, available operating modes, access level, etc.) associated with the current user, An operating mode alert application for providing alerts to the user in the case of modes (e.g., operating modes that permit operations with an open door), a load on one or more axes of the machine tool (e.g., side A diagnostic application that displays diagnostic data taken from the diagnostic sensors, and components to be produced in the current workplace and / or produced parts, including processing times and remaining work placement times Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > application < / RTI >

Set-up Calculation Application : The Calculation Set-up application is used to set up a user to run mathematical calculations to set machining operations, including calculating and checking angles and distances, as well as algorithms for calculating and checking custom tolerances for boreholes and shafts. Calculation functions. The setting calculation application may also provide functions to calculate data for processing optimized parameters relating to spindle motor speed, spindle load and feeding speed.

Cutting condition calculation application : The cutting condition calculation application is configured to provide cutting condition calculation algorithm functions to assist users in setting up a job. After selecting the tool type, upon input of parameters relating to the maximum allowed process force by the user via the geometric data (e.g., tool length, tool diameter, etc.) and the graphical user interface of the human machine interface 250, Is configured to calculate the recommended spindle speed and feed rate rates. If the spindle speed and feedrate rates are entered by the user, the cutting condition calculation application is configured to calculate the expected resultant process forces to check whether such input is feasible for the selected tool.

User Configuration Application : The user configuration application includes a user ID, a registration code, a maximum operation mode, a maximum access level, a reduced access level, a comment, and an indication of whether the user's portable ID device is currently attached, Show a list of all users registered for the tool; Registering new users, deleting users 'registrations, and editing users'registrations; Is configured to manually configure user configurations, including exporting and importing user registration data to and from other machine tools via a data interface such as Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, or wireless LAN.

Energy Saving Application : An energy saving application is a computer program that has a set up period during which no user interaction occurs (after which time the workroom lights of the machine tools are automatically shut down), and a set period of non-production time (after which the machine automatically The machine is placed in standby mode), and the like.

NET SERVICE APPLICATION : The net service application may be controlled by a machine tool with a support service center (e.g., via an external device as described in connection with Figure 6 or Figure 4 or Figure 5) for direct remote support by a human service Enabling direct communication from the panel. The human services can then perform technical support, monitoring and error diagnostics via a telecommunication connection (e.g. via the Internet).

CAD-CAM-VIEW APPLICATION : The CAD / CAM view application is used to execute remote applications on an external device (such as a remote CAD / CAM workstation) via desktop sharing (e.g., as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 5) Device. These external applications may include a CAD application, a CAM application, a CAD / CAM application, an NC program generation application and a machine tool simulation application so that the user can, at the control panel of the machine tool, (E.g., remotely modify, check and adapt 3D models of the final components, remotely create NC programs, or work with virtual machine tools through a remote machine tool simulation application) Simulate the process remotely).

Digital library applications : A library application can be configured to provide users with multiple documents, including process manuals, machine tool manuals, management manuals, attachment manuals, process documentation, and customer data. The functions may additionally include automatic keyword search within the provided documents.

Organizer application : The organizer application can be configured to provide individual calendar, memo, email and messenger functions for the individual user.

The features, components, and specific details of the structures of the above-described embodiments may be exchanged or combined to form additional embodiments that are optimized for each application. As long as such modifications are readily apparent to those skilled in the art, these modifications will be implicitly disclosed by the foregoing description in all possible combinations, without any explicit provision, for the sake of brevity of the description.

Claims (20)

A control system for controlling the operation of a numerically controlled machine tool (100)
The control system includes a back-end control device (300) and a front-end control device (200) communicatively coupled to the back-end control device (300)
The back-end control device (300)
A numerical controller 310;
A programmable logic controller 320;
A computer program product comprising a first storage means (311,321) for storing data, wherein one or more PLC registers (321) of the programmable logic controller (320) and one or more NC registers (311) of the numeric controller First storage means (311, 321) comprising;
First processing means (312) for executing a first operating system (313) based on data stored in the first storage means (311); And
The programmable logic controller 321, and the first storage means 311, 312, 314, 314, 314, 314, 314, (330) communicatively coupled to the first communication interface (321)
The back-end control device (300) or the front-end control device (200)
A second communication interface (330) communicatively coupled to the first communication interface (330) by the first interface language protocol utilizing a plurality of interface language protocols including the first interface language protocol and a second interface language protocol, And an interface server module 410 of the server 400,
The interface server module 410 includes interface language translation from the first interface language protocol to the second interface language protocol and interface language translation from the second interface language protocol to the first interface language protocol, And to convert between the first interface language protocol and one or more other interface language protocols of the plurality of interface language protocols,
The front-end control device (200)
Configured to communicate communicatively with the interface server module (410) of the second communication interface (400) using the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol, One or more interface client modules (420a, 420b, 420c) of the second communication interface (400);
A second processing means (210) for executing a second operating system (213), a basic module application (211), and a plurality of control applications (212a - 212g)
The basic module application 211 executing on the second processing means 210 may include one or more interface client modules 420a of the second communication interface 400, (410) and the second processing means (210) configured to access data stored in the first storage means (311, 321) via the first communication interface (330);
420b, and 420c of the second communication interface 400 and the one or more interface client modules 420a, 420b, and 420c of the second communication interface 400. The first communication interface 330, the interface server module 410 of the second communication interface 400, Second storage means (220) for storing data received from the numerical controller (310), the programmable logic controller (320), and the first storage means (312, 321);
A display unit (230) for displaying one or more control screens to a user;
An input unit (240) for receiving control input operations from the user; And
A first graphic for communicating with the display unit 230 and the input unit 240 for controlling the one or more control screens displayed on the display unit 230 and processing the user's control input operations; And a first human machine interface (250) including a user interface (251). The method according to claim 1,
The basic module application 211 executing on the second processing means 210 may send control commands of the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol to the one or more interface client modules 420a, 420b , 420c to request data stored in the first storage means (311, 321), wherein the one or more interface client modules (420a, 420b, 420c) are configured to request the data stored in the first interface means And to communicate control commands of the second internal communication protocol to the interface server module (410). 3. The method of claim 2,
The interface server module 410 converts the received control commands of the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol into corresponding control commands of the first interface language protocol, Language protocol of the first interface language protocol to the first communication interface (330), wherein the first communication interface (330) is configured to transmit the translated control commands of the first interface language protocol (311, 321). ≪ / RTI > 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The basic module application 211 controls the retrieval of new control application data and update data through one or more communication interfaces and / or data interfaces of the front-end control device 200, Wherein the controller is configured to control the installation of one or more new control applications based on the application data and to control the updating of one or more existing control applications based on the fetched update data. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control applications (212a-212g) running on the second processing means (210) are communicatively coupled to the basic module application (211), and the first storage means 311, < RTI ID = 0.0 > 321, < / RTI &
The control applications 212a-212g running on the second processing means 210 are communicatively coupled to the base module application 211 and the base module application 211 is connected to one or more control applications 212a To store the result information and / or statistical information received from the second storage means (220)
Wherein one or more of the plurality of control applications executing on the second processing means are configured and / or configured to observe data relating to the one or more second control applications of the plurality of control applications,
Wherein one or more of the plurality of control applications (212a-212g) executing on the second processing means (210) RTI ID = 0.0 > 212a-212g. ≪ / RTI > 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The first human machine interface 250 is configured to provide a plurality of sets of user-operable widgets, each user-operable widget being operable by the user via the input unit 240,
The first graphical user interface 251 is configured to control a plurality of first control screens such that each first control screen comprises a configuration of a respective set of user operable widgets,
The first graphical user interface 251 is configured to switch between one or more first control screens displayed on the display unit 230 based on user input operations input via the input unit 240 . 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
And a second graphical user interface (252, 341) for communicating with the first communication interface (330) and the first human machine interface (250) and for controlling at least one second control screen And a second human machine interface 340,
The first graphical user interface 251 is also configured to control displaying one or more first control screens or a third control screen on the display unit 230,
Wherein the third control screen includes a portion corresponding to at least one second control screen provided by the second graphical user interface (252, 341). 8. The method of claim 7,
The first graphical user interface 251 controls the third control screen such that the third control screen further comprises a configuration of a set of respective user-operable widgets provided by the first human- machine interface 250 The control system comprising: 9. The method according to claim 7 or 8,
The second graphical user interface 252 may be included in the front end control device 200 and may be executed on the second processing means 210,
Wherein the second graphical user interface (341) is included in the back end control device (300) running on the first processing means (312), the first graphical user interface and the second graphical user interface Wherein the control system is communicatively coupled through the system. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The first graphical user interface 251 is further configured to control displaying an application selection screen having a set of user-operable application selection widgets on the display unit, wherein each application selection widget comprises a plurality of control applications Configured to enable selection by the user of one or more of the control applications,
The first graphical user interface 251 is also configured to control, for each selected control application, displaying respective application screens for each selected control application, wherein each application screen is associated with an application- ≪ / RTI > comprising a set of widgets. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The input unit 240 and the display unit 230 may include a touch user interface including a touch screen or a touch screen combining the display unit 230 and at least a portion of the input unit 240, (260). ≪ / RTI > 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The first graphical user interface 251 may include and / or include one or more user-operable widgets communicatively coupled to the base module application 211 and / or the one or more interface client modules 420a, 420b, do or,
Wherein the one or more widgets are configured / configured to access data in the first and second storage means (220, 311, 321) via the base module application (211) Is configured to access data in the first storage means (311, 321) via the client modules (420a, 420b, 420c). 13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The front end control device 200 further comprises a web server module 270 configured to access data in the first storage means 312, 321 via the one or more interface client modules 420a, 420b, ≪ / RTI > 14. The method of claim 13,
A first remote control device (500) comprising:
The second web browser module 510,
A second display unit (520) for displaying one or more control screens to a user, and
Further comprising a second input unit (530) for receiving control input operations from the user, the first remote control device (500)
The second web browser module 510 is communicatively coupled to the web server module 270 of the front end control device 200 and is connected to the front end control device 200 through the web server module 270. [ The one or more interface client modules 420a, 420b, and 420c, the interface client server 410, and the web server module 270. The basic module application 211 and the second storage module 220 of the web server module 270, ) And the first storage means (311, 321), the numerical controller (310) and the programmable logic controller (320) of the back-end control device (300) via the first communication interface Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the second display unit (520) is configured to display the one or more control screens provided by the first graphical user interface (251) via a graphical desktop sharing system. 15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
As a second remote control device (600)
The processing means 610,
A remote application 620 executing in the processing means 610, and
Further comprising a third graphical user interface (630) for providing a remote application screen based on the execution of the remote application (620), the second remote control device (600)
The third graphical user interface 630 is communicably connected to the first graphical user interface 251 of the front-end control device 200,
Wherein the first graphical user interface (251) is configured to control displaying the remote application screen on the first display unit (230) of the front-end control device (200) via a graphical desktop sharing system. Control system. 16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
Includes one or more interface server modules (410) of one or more of the back-end control devices (300), the interface client module (420d) communicatively coupled to the database storage means (710) Further comprising a data acquisition device (700) communicably connectable to the data acquisition device (700)
The data collection device 700 is connected to the interface client module 420d and each of the interface server modules 410 and the first communication modules 330 of the respective back end control devices 300, And to access data in the storage means (311, 321) of the back-end control devices (300)
Characterized in that said data collection device (700) comprises database storage means (710) for storing historical data received from said one or more backend control devices (300) via said interface client module (420d) Control system. A front-end control device for use in a system according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
Configured to communicate communicatively with the interface server module (410) of the second communication interface (400) using the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol, One or more interface client modules (420a, 420b, 420c) of the second communication interface (400);
A second processing means (210) for executing a second operating system (213), a basic module application (211) and a plurality of control applications (212a - 212g) The basic module application 211 includes one or more interface client modules 420a of the second communication interface 400, an interface server module 410 of the second communication interface 400, and the first communication interface 330 The second processing means (210) configured to access data stored in the first storage means (311, 321);
420b, and 420c of the second communication interface 400 and the one or more interface client modules 420a, 420b, and 420c of the second communication interface 400. The first communication interface 330, the interface server module 410 of the second communication interface 400, Second storage means (220) for storing data received from the numerical controller (310), the programmable logic controller (320), and the first storage means (312, 321);
A display unit (230) for displaying one or more control screens to a user;
An input unit (240) for receiving control input operations from the user; And
A first graphical user interface (GUI), communicatively coupled to the display unit (230) and the input unit (240), for controlling the one or more control screens displayed on the display unit and for processing control input operations of the user 25. A front-end control device comprising a first human-machine interface (250) 18. The method of claim 17,
A second communication interface (330), which utilizes a plurality of interface language protocols including the first interface language protocol and a second interface language protocol and is communicatively coupled to the first communication interface (330) by the first interface language protocol 400 interface server module 410,
The interface server module 410 includes interface language translation from the first interface language protocol to the second interface language protocol and interface language translation from the second interface language protocol to the first interface language protocol, And to convert between the first interface language protocol and one or more other interface language protocols of the plurality of interface language protocols. 17. A back-end control device for use in a system according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
A numerical controller 310;
A programmable logic controller 320;
A computer program product comprising a first storage means (311,321) for storing data, wherein one or more PLC registers (321) of the programmable logic controller (320) and one or more NC registers (311) of the numeric controller First storage means (311, 321) comprising;
First processing means (312) for executing a first operating system (313) based on data stored in the first storage means (311);
The programmable logic controller 321, and the first storage means 311, 312, 314, 314, 314, 314, 314, A first communication interface (330) communicatively coupled to the first communication interface (321); And
A second communication interface (330) communicatively coupled to the first communication interface (330) by the first interface language protocol utilizing a plurality of interface language protocols including the first interface language protocol and a second interface language protocol, (400), and an interface server module (410)
The interface server module 410 includes interface language translation from the first interface language protocol to the second interface language protocol and interface language translation from the second interface language protocol to the first interface language protocol, And to convert between the first interface language protocol and one or more other interface language protocols of the plurality of interface language protocols. 17. A communication interface for use in a system according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
The method comprising: utilizing a plurality of interface language protocols, including one or more first interface language protocols and a second interface language protocol, using the one or more first interface language protocols utilized by the first communication interfaces (330) An interface server module (410) communicatively connectable to the first communication interfaces (330) of the NC / PLC back end control devices (310); And
One or more interface client modules (420a, 420b) configured to communicate using the second interface language protocol and / or the second internal communication protocol and to be communicatively coupled to the interface server module (410) , 420c.

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